Polk County Enterprise - ObituariesFor the Week of June 11, 2007 - June 18, 2007
Copyright 2007 - Polk County Publishing Company

Mark SingletaryCORRIGAN – Funeral services for Mark Singletary, 22, of Shepherd were held Thursday, May 31, 2007, in the Corrigan Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Lonnie Crawford officiating. Interment followed in Union Springs Cemetery.
Mr. Singletary was born June 4, 1984 in Anahuac and died Monday, May 27, in Cleveland. He was a truck driver employed by Billy Singletary Trucking.
Survivors include his daughter, Kaleigh Michele Singletary of Shepherd; mother, Patty Arnold of Highlands; brothers and sister-in-law, Richard Thomas and Amy Wickesser of Highlands and Clayton Thomas Wickesser of Highlands; grandparents, Billy and Martha Singletary of Corrigan; niece, Cheyenne Wickesser of Highlands; nephew, Trey Wickesser of Highlands and special friend, Candiss Woods of Shepherd.

Glenn Thomasson
LIVINGSTON -- Glenn Thomasson 51, of Onalaska died on Wednesday, May 23, 2007, in Livingston.Services were held Saturday June 2, in the Pace Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Reagan Cooksey officiating. Mr. Thomasson was born July 15, 1955 to parents Daniel T. Thomasson and Doris Seifert Thomasson in Aschafenburg, Germany. He was an avid outdoorsman, especially enjoying hunting and fishing on Lake Livingston. He was known as someone who loved his family and his community. He was president of the Creekside Subdivision POA and also was a member of the Masonic Forrest Lodge No. 19 in Huntsville. He is survived by his parents, Daniel T. and Doris Thomasson; brother, Daniel D. Thomasson and wife Sandra; sister, Vera E. Jeter and husband Clayton; special friend, Carolyn Smitherman and a host of extended family and friends.To sign the online guestbook, go to pacefuneral.com.

Kevin Elvis
LIVINGSTON – Funeral services for Kevin Elvis, 44, were held Friday, June 1, 2007, in the Cochran Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Jason Collins officiating.Mr. Elvis died Monday, May 28, at his residence in Livingston.He was born Oct. 15, 1962 in Pennsylvania.Survivors include his wife, Jana Breazzeal Elvis of Livingston and stepdaughter, Haley Marie Causey of Livingston.

Joseph Albert Fantini
DALLAS – Joseph Albert Fantini, born April 15, 1925 in Haverhill, Mass, died on May 28, 2007. He was a naval veteran of World War II. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dovie and daughter, Vivian Darby. He had been a resident of Livingston Convalescent Center for the past five years.Survivors include his children, Joe and Chris Fantini, Mike Fantini, David Fantini, Carmen and Nancy Fantini and Mary and Jerry Frerichs; 19 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.Funeral mass was Saturday, June 2, at Calvary Hill Mausoleum North Chapel.

Oather Lee Clifford
LIVINGSTON – Funeral services for Oather Lee Clifford Sr., 68, were held Monday, June 4, 2007, in the Cochran Funeral Home Chapel, with Bro. Jeff Gravis officiating.
Mr. Clifford died Thursday, May 31, at his residence in Livingston.
He was born April 7, 1939 in Walker County, the son of Lonnie and Agnes Justice Clifford, both of whom preceded him in death. He was a U.S. Army veteran, a tile setter for Goodson Tile Co. and loved the outdoors, especially fishing and hunting.
Survivors include his wife, Viola Clifford of Livingston; sisters, Betty Nudgent of Conroe, Minnie Clifford of New Caney and Bethel Taylor of Coldspring; brothers, Donald Clifford of New Caney, Dennis Clifford of New Caney and Eugene Goodson Jr. of Kountze; brother-in-law, Douglas Taylor of Coldspring; sister-in-law, Martha Goodson of Kountze; sons, Oather Clifford Jr. of Houston and Sherman Clifford; daughters, Donna Clifford of Livingston and Brenda Love of Onalaska; sons-in-law, Gary Bartlett of Livingston and David Love of Onalaska; granddaughters, Stacey Iddings of Shepherd, Carollee Carr of Huntsville and Samantha Love of Onalaska; grandsons, Anthony Clifford, Charles Carr of Huntsville, Billy Mercon Jr. of Livingston and David Love II of Onalaska; great-grandson, Krayton Sumner of Shepherd; great-granddaughter, Hyla Carr of Huntsville and numerous nieces and nephews.

Vesta McCready Neal
ARLINGTON – Vesta McCready Neal, 94, died on Friday, June 1, 2007.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, June 6, 2007, at Eastern Hills United Methodist Church, with burial following in Greenwood Memorial Park.
Mrs. Neal was born in 1913 in Blum to Arthur and Josephine McCready. She attended Rule High School, where she was captain of the women’s basketball team. She met Marvin Ellis Neal at a Halloween party and married him on Nov. 24, 1935. They had two children, Mack Ellis Neal and Julie Suzanne Neal Alexander.
During World War II, while Marvin was serving in the Navy in the South Pacific, Vesta lived in Ft. Worth and worked at Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation (now known as Carswell AFB, JRB) working on the B-24 and B-36 planes. After the war, she and Marvin moved to Pasadena, where she worked at Sears Roebuck and retired in 1973.
After retirement, Vesta and Marvin moved to Lake Livingston. Mrs. Neal became very active in the Polk County Garden Club. She served as their president for the 1987-88 year and that year the Garden Club went to the state convention and won the top award. After she stepped down from her year as president, the Garden Club named a scholarship in her honor, the Vesta Neal Scholarship. She became a life member of the Texas Garden Club, Inc. in 1987. In 2007, the club gave a $1,000 award to a Livingston High School graduate.
She was active in the First United Methodist Church in Livingston. After her husband’s death in 1990, Mrs. Neal moved to Ft. Worth to be closer to her daughter and granddaughter. She transferred her church membership to Eastern Hills UMC.
Survivors include her children, Julie S. Alexander and Mack E. Neal and wife Theresa; granddaughters, Heather Alexander McIntyre and husband Sean and Tammy Jones Johnson and husband Mark; grandson, William Clark; great-granddaughters, Katelyn McIntyre and Victoria Johnson and great-grandson, Lliam Clark.
Memorials may be made to the Vesta Neal Scholarship Fund, Polk County Garden Club, 204 Mill St., Livingston, TX 77351 or the Gideon Memorial Bible Fund, c/o Greg Ogletree, 1410 W. Noblitt, Livingston, TX 77351.
Greenwood Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Wilma Lee Ogletree
LIVINGSTON – Wilma Lee Ogletree, 90, of Livingston died on Sunday, June 3, 2007, at her residence in Livingston.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, June 5, at Central Baptist Church, with Bro. Barry Jeffries officiating. Burial followed in Forest Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Ogletree was born Dec. 27, 1916 in Mooringsport, La., the daughter of Isham and Artie Walker Gray. Mrs. Ogletree was a Sunday school teacher at Central Baptist Church for many years. She was a founding member of the Livingston Art League and a benefactor of Memorial Medical Center – Livingston.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ben Ogletree, whom she married at her parents’ home in Soda on Oct. 19, 1935; her parents; brother, L.L. Gray Jr. and grandson, Barry Gray Ogletree Jr.
Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, Ben R. and Jan Ogletree Jr. of Livingston, Barry and Karen Ogletree of Lufkin, Greg and Kathy Ogletree of Livingston and Kelton and Louisia Ogletree of Livingston; grandsons and wives, Ben R. and Tammi Ogletree III, Clark and Yana Ogletree, Will Ogletree, Jonathan Ogletree and Daniel Villarreal; granddaughters and husbands, Londa and John Haynes, Lee Parker, Alex and Robert Belt, Jennifer and Grady Rowe, Lauren and Tres Harrison, Samantha Ogletree and Mary Parker and 22 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Ben R. Ogletree III, Clark Ogletree, John Haynes, Will Ogletree, Robert Belt, Grady Rowe, Jonathan Ogletree, Tres Harrison and Daniel Villarreal.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Central Baptist Church Building Fund.
Cochran Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Billie Floye Pillows
GROVETON – Funeral services for Billie Floye Pillows, 76, of Groveton were held Tuesday, June 5, 2007, at Groveton Funeral Home, with Bro. Terry Morris officiating. Interment followed in Moore Cemetery.
Mrs. Pillows died June 2 in Groveton.
She was born March 2, 1931 in Nacogdoches. She served on the Centerville School Board for 23 years, was a retired cosmetologist and was a Baptist. She was preceded in death by her son, Earl Ray Mericle and parents, Henry and Gracie Herring Morris.
Survivors include her husband, Robert Lee Pillows Jr. of Groveton; children, Preston Mericle and wife Mary of Livingston, Billie White and husband James of Trinity, Floye Hall of Thibodaux, La. and Glenn Pillows of Trinity; brother, Morris Hilton of Shertz; eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Moore Cemetery.
Groveton Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Lewis Mortilee Johnson
TRINITY -- Lewis Mortilee Johnson of Onalaska was born on Jan. 4, 1939 in Trinity and died at the age of 69 on May 15, 2007 at his residence in Onalaska.
Mr. Johnson was known as a gentleman who was honest, generous and compassionate and a man who loved and respected his family. He loved his ever present companion, his puppy “Little Man.” He also loved the company of all his many friends and his pastime of fishing.
Lewis was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Lee and Nellie Viola Johnson; brothers, Odell, Clyde, John D., Tom, Donald and Robert Johnson and sisters, Olla May Gray and Lois Smith.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Callens Johnson of Onalaska; sons, Martin Lee Johnson and Danny Lewis Johnson; brother, Roscoe Johnson and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A graveside service was held on May 18 at Carlisle Cemetery, with the Rev. Douglas Johnson officiating.
Waller-Thornton Funeral Home was in charge of final arrangements.

A.L. “Buddy” Wood
DENISON – A.L. “Buddy” Wood, a long-time resident of Onalaska, was born Nov. 5, 1932 and died June 3, 2007.
He loved to fish on Lake Livingston and was known as someone with caring friends with whom he shared many happy memories.
A celebration of his life was held Saturday, June 16, at Triple Creek Marina by the water where his remains were spread as his final wish.
Survivors include his sons, Jesse King and wife Sue and Jody Wood and wife Ivon; daughters, Nita Lewis and husband David, Melba Hill and husband James and Brenda K. Bang and fiancé LaDon Davis; stepson, John Kennemer and wife Kelle; stepdaughters, Sue Troxtell and husband Billy and LaRonna Rice; grandchildren, Valerie, Jonathan, Becky, Shonna, Sabrina, Jessica, Brandon, Paul, Brittian, Skylar and Andrea; seven great-grandchildren; six step-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father, Jesse; mother, Melba; sister, Tod Stewart and former wife, Berta Wood.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Texoma HealthCare ICU unit in Denison, Texas.

Betty Jo Holden
TOMBALL -- Betty Jo Holden, 51, died on June 4, 2007.
She is preceded in death by her fathers, Richard Morgan and Leroy Whorlehy and brother, Paul Morgan.
She is survived by her husband, Charles Holden; daughter, Shauna Vestal and fiancée Billy Evans; sons, Joe Anthony Garcia and Kyle Schweigert; mothers, Mollie Morgan and Ida Whorley; sisters, Sharon Green and husband Terry, Wonda Sanchez and husband Randy, Linda Ginn and husband Johnny and Etta Faye Hyde and husband Larry; brothers, Richard Morgan and wife Kyren, Larry Whorley and wife Kay, Dale Whorley and wife Diane and Ricky Whorley and wife LaRae, along with seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, 39 nieces and nephews and a host of life long friends.
The family will receive friends Thursday June 7, from 5-8 p.m. at Klein Funeral Home. Services were held Friday in the chapel of Klein Funeral Home, Tomball.

Emily Jane Walters
LIVINGSTON – Funeral services for Emily Jane Walters, 91, were held Saturday, June 9, 2007, in the Cochran Funeral Home Chapel, with Bro. Hosea and Bro. Larry Byrd officiating. Burial followed in Peebles Cemetery.
Mrs. Walters died Wednesday, June 6, at her residence in Goodrich.
She was born May 12, 1916 in Leggett, the daughter of John and Catherine Tullos McCormick. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Clemon L. Walters; son, John Clemon Walters; daughter, Lana Catherine Leggett; brothers, Lon McCormick and Will McCormick and sisters, Nola Buller, Ruth Marsh, Johnnie Mae LaRoe and Ethel Gregory.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Jack and Madelyn Leggett of Orangefield; grandsons, Mark Leggett and wife Helen of Nederland, John Walters and James Scott Walters; granddaughters, Cathey Leggett Treibel and husband Larry of Humble and Jane Walters; nine great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers were Mark Leggett, John Walters, Dr. Ray Perez, James Corder, Jack Leggett, Dr. David Gregory and Larry Treibel.